A BUSINESSWOMAN who turned to adoption after an unsuccessful IVF journey has spoken about how the experience has shown her that “families come in all shapes and sizes”.
Jessica, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, began the adoption process in 2023 as a single adopter with Adoption Now, a regional adoption agency working in partnership with Tameside Council and neighbouring authorities.
Her decision came after years of considering adoption, including seeing family members go through the process themselves.
Jessica said: “Adoption felt like the natural, right route for me, as my nieces are adopted and I had considered adopting for many years.
“My only worry was being a single person and whether that would go against me. But families come in all shapes and sizes. They are just looking for people that can give a child a good life.”
The process, she said, was made easier by the support of her social worker and the clarity of communication throughout.
Jessica said: “Everything was explained to me really well, and my social worker was always on hand if I had any questions.”
She was approved to adopt in 2024 and just a month later was matched with a young boy, Leo, through an early permanence placement.
Early permanence allows children to be placed with potential adoptive families while court proceedings are still ongoing, with the aim of providing stability as early as possible.
For Jessica, that meant caring for Leo while also taking part in regular contact sessions with his birth mother over more than a year.
Jessica said: “If you’d asked me before, I was a bit worried about hostility towards me as an adopter, but it wasn’t like that at all. It was a real benefit as it gave us a chance to get to know each other.
“She feels comfortable that I’ve adopted him, and it gave me the opportunity to learn things about him that aren’t written down on a piece of paper.”
Leo is now two years old and settled into family life, with Jessica now beginning the adoption process again in the hope of welcoming a second child.
Looking back on her experience, she is keen to encourage others who may be considering adoption but feel uncertain.
To anyone thinking about it, Jessica said: “Start the process! Don’t delay because you’re worried about having the perfect home, good enough finances or the right time; there’s a period of time in the process. Make that first enquiry and I think you’ll find out loads about adoption that you didn’t know.”
There are currently 94 children waiting to be adopted across Tameside and neighbouring authorities including Bolton, Bury, Oldham and Rochdale, according to Adoption Now.
Councillor Teresa Smith, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Children’s and Families, said Jessica’s experience reflects the reality of adoption today.
“Jessica’s story goes to show that you don’t need the ‘perfect’ life to adopt. What matters most is providing a safe, loving and stable home where children can thrive. We are incredibly proud to support adopters like Jessica, who are being the difference to the lives of children and young people in Tameside.”